The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 256: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 249 “‘ Better man!’ repeated the merchant, still more surprised. '** Ay, sir, a better man. I have put up with your ridi- culous airs of superiority and vile temper long enough ; it is time,” added the little man, “ that it ended.” “It is ended,” replied his partner, by a violent effort restraining himself; “ quite time. You will make up your accounts, Mr. Small, and you and your three cubs will quit my office directly.” ** As you please ; my account is quite ready—shall we go over it ?”’ “At once,” exclaimed the imdignant merchant, opening his private ledger; for he felt so enraged at the tone his hitherto subservient tool had suddenly assumed, that he resolved to end with him that very day. Had he seen the quiet grin of satisfaction on his partner’s countenance, or the twinkle of hate in his little gray eye, perhaps he would not have been s precipitate. : Small opened a corresponding memorandum-book, and began to read: “* Brown and Tyars, three thousand pounds.” “‘ Right,” said Grindem, checking it. ‘Smith and Morton, seven thousand pounds thirteen and eightpence.”’ ** Correct,” drily answered his partner. And so they continued—one reading a list of names, and the other checking them—till they came to the end of the page in the senior partner’s ledger. COniiclooecl SS (SO